The Inner Compass: From Physical Activity in Nature to a Commitment to an Active Life

This chapter presents a narrative and conceptual review of the motivational foundations that explain why experiences in the natural environment can foster commitment to an active life. Drawing on established theoretical frameworks, such as Self-Determination Theory, the multidimensional model of engagement, the Harmonious Passion Theory, and approaches to self-regulation and self-efficacy, the chapter analyzes the psychological mechanisms that transform fleeting motivation into sustained commitment. Uncertainty, novelty, and cooperation are highlighted as factors that activate curiosity, attention, and flow, helping to reinterpret the friction of effort as a rewarding experience. The metaphor of the inner compass summarizes this process: it represents the mental framework that guides the individual to maintain a positive and lasting connection with movement. The chapter proposes considering the natural environment as a pedagogical laboratory in which motivation towards an active lifestyle is cultivated.